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Mr Fallon’s vow came as Lord Howard told Sky News' Sophy Ridge on Sunday there was no doubt Theresa May’s Government would stand by the British territory.

The former Conservative Party leader said: "There is no question whatever that our Government will stand by Gibraltar.

"Thirty-five years ago this week another woman Prime Minister sent a task force halfway across the world to defend the freedom of another small group of British people against another Spanish-speaking country.

"I am absolutely certain our current Prime Minister will show the same resolve in standing by the people of Gibraltar."

Gibraltar is going to be protected all the way

Sir Michael Fallon

On Friday it emerged the European Union had granted Spain a veto right on any deal between the UK and the bloc that involves Gibraltar.

The country reacts as Theresa May officially invokes Article 50, and begins the process of Britain leaving the European Union

“The policy of the Government remains fixed and firm. The sovereignty of Gibraltar cannot be changed without the express consent of the UK and the people of Gibraltar.”

Mr Johnson hailed the territory’s “vibrant business centre” and claimed its harbour remains a “key Nato asset” due to its capability to harbour nuclear submarines.

The former London mayor told the Telegraph: “The UK Government can be counted on to stick up for those interests - for instance in insurance and maritime services - which create jobs not just in Gibraltar but in the wider region of southern Spain.

“The status of Gibraltar has been unchanged since 1713. It made no difference when the UK joined the Common Market in 1973 and when Spain was not yet a member. It should make no difference today.

"So let us go into these discussions with goodwill and optimism and get a deal that is good for the UK, good for Spain, and good for the people of Gibraltar."

The British outpost, which ceded to the UK in 1713, was addressed in EU Council president Donald Tusk’s nine-page draft Brexit guidelines.

It read: “After the United Kingdom leaves the Union, no agreement between the EU and the United Kingdom may apply to the territory of Gibraltar without the agreement between the Kingdom of Spain and the United Kingdom."

The territory’s Chief Minister, Fabian Picardo, condemned the move as he said the EU nation was “obsession” with the Rock and would do anything to secure their “medieval and rancid” claim.